Portret van een onbekende bedoeïenensjeik c. 1867 - 1877

Félix Bonfils, a French photographer who specialized in documenting the Middle East, captured this portrait of an unnamed Bedouin sheikh in the 1860s. The image, now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, showcases Bonfils's keen eye for detail and interest in capturing the lives of diverse cultures. The sheikh is portrayed in traditional attire, his face partially obscured by a turban and keffiyeh, creating a sense of mystery and authority. This photo, a testament to Bonfils's extensive work in documenting the region, offers a glimpse into the lives of Bedouin people in 19th-century Syria.